Apparatus for mounting peripherally flanged appliances



June 29, 1965 w. A. JUERGENS APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING PERIPHERALLY FLANGED APPLIANCES Filed Dec. 15. 1961 INVENTOR. LJ/LL/AM 4 Juegagy BY Mgo/v, 55771.5 2 CRAIG ,47'TORNE g United States Patent Office 3,191,191 Patented June 29, 1965 3,191,191 APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING PERIPHERALLY FLANGED APPLIANCES William A. Juergens, 18711 Roscommon, Harper Woods, Mich. Filed Dec. 15, 1961, Ser. No. 159,549 4 Claims. (Cl. 4-187) This invention relates broadly to the mounting of peripherally flanged appliances in countertops or the like, and more particularly to an improved mounting for peripherally flanged appliances wherein installation of the appliance in a cutout opening is effected from the bottomside in a more expeditious manner than by prior art methods, and wherein provision is made for temporarily holding an appliance and separate rim in assembled relationship for insertion of the assembly into position from the topside.

The use of peripherally flanged appliances such as sinks, range units and the like has enjoyed rapidly expanding use in the building industry in recent years. One common method for installing appliances of this nature is the bottomside technique, and as heretofore prac ticed this has been a substantially laborious procedure. Thus, the prior art installation has usually utilized a separate rim that is first temporarily attached to the appliance and positioned in place in a countertop opening and thereafter it has been necessary to install the hook portions of several locking lugs over a lip of the frame and then tighten nuts, comprising part of the installation lugs, against the lower side of the appliance rim. This causes the appliance and frame to be compressed together and simultaneously pulls the frame downwardly so that a portion of each installation lug bears upwardly against the bottomside of the countertop to provide a permanent, Waterproof assembly.

It will be appreciated that this is a diflicult operation when it is understood that the clearance between the periphery of the appliance and the outside wall of the cabinet space is often no more than an inch or so and the workman must find the lip of the frame with the hook of the attaching lug in these narrow spaces. Also, a plurality of the lugs are required that contain screws to be tightened. Thus, the finding of screw driver slots in dark and cramped conditions, the application of the hook of the lug to the lip of the frame and the application of or more lugs to secure the appliance in position is a time-consuming, and to say the least, a frustrating and somewhat old fashioned method of installing appliances.

In addition to the difliculty of installation of the prior art appliances, warehousing problems have been substantial in the prior art. Thus, the prior art has required at least four different rim section configurations and about 12 different configurations of lugs to accommodate the various thicknesses of appliance flanges commonly employed. In addition to the four general cross sectional type frames that have to be stocked, within each type, frames with different length webs have been required, depending upon thicknesses of appliance flanges and thicknesses of countertops. Thus, to say the least, the warehousing problem presented by the prior art devices are very substantial.

Accordingly, if a simplified and more economical mounting for flanged appliances could be provided for applying all types of appliances from the bottomside in less time, wherein one frame was adapted to all appliance rim thickness, to be used in combination with one lug, and either two brackets or one universal bracket, not only would a step forward in the art of appliance installation be provided but also a tremendous reduction in warehousing problems would be provided.

It is accordingly an important object of the present invention to provide a novel mounting structure for flanged appliances.

A further object is to provide a novel bottomside mounting for flanged appliances which permits easy, temporary installation of the appliance from topside, including in situ application frame and caulking or waterproof seal in about 10 minutes elapsed time.

A further object is to provide a mounting for flanged appliances wherein bottomside installation is provided in an expeditious manner and wherein the appliance can be removed at a subsequent time by the mere expedient of loosening a few screws.

A still further object is to provide a novel mounting for flanged appliances of either the auxiliary frame type or self-framing type wherein installation is made from the bottomside in a much more efficient manner than by the prior art.

A further object is to provide an improved mounting for flanged appliances wherein pre-assembly of the frame to the appliance is made in a very simple manner from the exposed side of the countertop or other mounting surface, and thereafter self-retaining and lug aligning brackets are used for bottomside final installation to overcome the prior art problems of fumbling in the dark.

A further object is to provide a mounting for flanged appliances utilizing a bracket adapted to accommodate all thicknesses of appliance flanges and all thicknesses of countertop materials therefore substantially simplifying inventory.

Another object is to provide a mounting for flanged appliances that provides for factory assembly of the mounting frame and appliance, where provision is made for positive retention of the temporary mounting clips against accidental dislodgement during shipping or handling between factory assembly and situs of installation.

Another object is to provide a system for mounting flanged appliances utilizing one universal frame, one lug, and in most simplified form, one universal mounting bracket.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is atop plan view of a flanged sink mounted in a countertop in accordance with the present invention, showing the use of 4 temporary brackets and 8 permanent brackets;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged section view, taken along line 22 of FIGURE 1, showing application of a temporary mounting bracket of the invention, holding an appliance mounting frame and appliance in temporary assembled relationship, while the appliance is dropped in from topside, before tightening of mounting lug screws in permanent mounting brackets, for final installation;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view of the temporary mounting bracket of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a section view showing the manner in which a permanent mounting bracket of invention is installed, with lugs applied for final installation;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a modified permanent mounting bracket of invention, with retainer tab;

FIGURE 6 is a front elevational view of a combination temporary and permanent bracket or universal bracket of invention; and

FIGURE 7 is a section view showing application of the present invention to a self-framing appliance.

Before explaining the present invention in detail it is As shown in'FIGURE 1, a peripherally flanged appliance 10, such as a kitchen sink, bathroom sink or the like,

is mounted in a countertop 12, within a suitable opening a cut out of the countertop. Typically the counter. top .12 may comprise plywood of suitable thickness covered with althin layer of heat and liquid-resistant synthetic resin, such as a thermosetting phenolic resin. 'When mounting an appliance of the non-self-framin'g type as shown in FIGURES l, 2 and 4, the perimeter of the opening in the countertop'12' is cut slightly larger than the perimeter of the'flange 14, FIGURE 2, of theappliance 10. Thus, a'clearance space 16 is provided between the edge ,of the 18 that the-attachment brackets of the invention are. utilized.

The temporary mounting bracket As shown in FIGURES 2 and 3 of the drawings, a temporary mounting bracket -28 of. invention is utilized to hold the frame 18 to the appliance rim 14'for ftopside installation of the appliance 10 and frame into the mounting opening before'application from the ,bottomside of permanent mounting lugs, also forming a part of the present invention, and to be later described.

Accordingly, a temporary attachment bracket 23, starting at the top, includes the overturned lip 26, optionally bent a'few degrees beyond 90? to provide a positive lock within the gap 24 of the frame 18. The overturned lip 26 is joined to a generally perpendicularly related or vertically'eztending wall 34 that is bent at the bottom to extend outwardly at'about 90, in the same direction away portledge 36.

rim 14'of the appliance 10 and the edge of the holein the countertop 12,v FIGURE 2, whichis bridged by a frame 18 that extendscompletely around the periphery ofthe appliance, and as will be subsequently described is so connected between the appliance. and the countertop as to lock the appliance in placefin fluid-sealed relationg ship thereto. i V a It should be pointed out that the frame 18 of the present invention is made of strip stock, such as stainless steel,

formed into a rectangular. loop with the ends joined as by a polished butt weld to make it endless and thus pro vide an installation finished'oif in a workmanlike manner. Also, at this point, a particularly important aspectof the invention should be brought 'out to the effectthat the in its structure thus providing maximum economy ofv To substantiate this comparison, some manufacture.

bracket 28.

frames of the prior art have a central perpendicular wall 7 orweb of up to two inches length. This is a relatively expensive itemVbecau-se of the high cost'of stainless steel. By operating in accordance withthe present invention, at least 20 worthv of stainless steel. at, todays pricelevel can be cut out of frame cost by utilizing one short vertical wall for all appliances, in combination with the highly versatile mounting brackets'of invention, to 'be discussed in detail in their various modifications hereinafter.

ent invention i's superimposed and a complete and detailed description now-follows. a Y

The immie Now by reference to FlGURE 2, it will be noted that the'frame- 18 of the present invention is'simple to manufacture, being of generally T-shaped cross section with an upper generally horizontal arcuate wall 20,' having a reversely turned sub-wall 22 formed along one edge thereof. It willbe noted that the reversely turned sub-wall 22 is stepped to providea gap; 24 for receiving a topmost overturned securing lip 26 of a temporary attachment bracket 28, or similar lip 54 of a permanent attachment bracket to be later described, both of invention. Also,

As shown in FIGURES 2'and 3 the support ledge 36 is suitably dimpled upwardly asshown, oroptionally in the other direction, toform an aperture 38 for receiving abolt or screw 4%. I V v It will be noted that the upper end of thebolt 46 engages the underneath, side of therim f the appliance 1t? and tightening of the bolt or screw pulls the frame 18,

temporary attachment bracket ZSand appliance rim 14 into positive locking engagement. f V 1 It is to be pointed out that the initial assemblyof parts is made with the rim. 18 inupside down position on the countertop 1 2, and the appliance 10 is dropped thereinto, followed byapplication of the temporary attachment Thereafter, the entire assembly is flipped over and dropped into place in the appliance mounting hole ofthe'countertop 12. V It should be pointed out that at the time of applying the temporary attachment. brackets '28 the permanent brackets hereinafter to be described are also clipped on the frame 13 so thatthe only operation required for bottomside completion is the application of universal permanent mounting lugs, to be described with reference to FIGURES 4 and 7. V

Desirable additional feature of temporary mounting bracket From the foregoing, the obvious advance in the art provided by the present-invention in making bottomside flanged appliance installations; is clearly demonstrated. However, occasions may arise where the temporary attach- 50 It is upon this environmental:background that the pres-v This can be visualized by reference to FIGURE 2, by

application'of force along the arrowline 42 to the tem porary attachment bracket 28 to force the end of the bolt 40. out from under the appliance rim 14. To overcome this; occasionalrdisturbance and to further improve applicantsjproduct, and provide for. factory assembly of frame to appliance rim,v and provide positive assurance that thej assembly will remain intact during shipping and subsequent handling, the wall'34 of the temporary bracket 28 is provided medially with an angularlyupturned and ofts'etlip 44, that is adapted to embrace the bottom edge of the attachment wall 30 of the mounting frame 18.

This lip 44 prevents force inthe arrow 42 direction of FIGURE 2 from dislodging the bracket 28. from assembled-relationship with the flange 14 of the appliance 10 and keeps the appliance, frame 18 and bracket positively retained together. Thus, the" appliance can be framed and bracketed at the factory'for shipment'to installation s te so that application of permanent-mounting brackets,

caulking, dropping into position and applying mounting lugs are the only requirements for installation.

As regards the length of the lip 44 illustrated in FIG- URE 2, it will be noted that the lip is fairly short and gives a short wall overlap, to provide application to the attachment wall 30 of the frame 13 by simply twisting or popping the clip into position at any point along the wall 30, and an overlapping of about 6 inch between the offset lip and the bottom edge of the wall 30 has been found quite satisfactory; being subject to some variation depending upon the hardness of the steel of the clip. However, the invention is not to be limited in this respect, and a greater overlap than shown in FIGURE 2 is to be included within the broad scope of the invention.

One form of permanent attachment bracket As shown in FIGURE 4, a permanent attachment bracket 50 of invention includes a generally flat wall 52 with an overturned lip 54 formed along the top edge thereof. The width of the flat wall 52, i.e. the bracket 50, is about 1% inches in most installations. Spaced from the overturned lip 54, there is provided a lug receiving slot 56, note FIGURE 6.

The overturned lip 54 is adapted to fit within the gap 24 of the frame 18 in the same manner as previously described, and when bent slightly beyond 90, provides a positive restriction against displacement by accidental force in the arrow 58 direction. An angularly upturned and oflset lip as exemplified by 44 in FIGURES 2 and 3 is not required for the permanent attachment bracket 50, as when installation is made at the site because there is very little possibility of dislodgement between application and dropping of the unit into place in the countertop. Thus, the clip of FIGURE 4 is very inexpensive to manufacture. However, the angularly upturned and offset lip 44 is to be included within the broad scope of the invention, as illustrated in FIGURE 6, as Where factory framing and bracketing is desirable.

Final installation Final installation is believed to be obvious from FIG- URE 4, wherein a permanent attachment lug 60 of generally plate-like elongated rectangular configuration is provided centrally with an alignment recess 62 by dimpling a ridge of metal transversely at about the middle of the unit to provide a fulcrum point in the lug receiving slot 56 of the permanent attachment bracket 50. At one end of the lug 60, a suitably dimpled and threaded aperture 64 is provided to receive a bolt 40 passed upwardly to engage the bottomside of the rim 14 of the appliance 10. Tightening of the bolt 40 will be understood to apply a force in the arrow 66 direction, rocking the lug 60 in slot 56 and clamping the other end 61 of the lug in the arrow 68 direction against the bottom of the countertop 12. Thus, a permanent assembly is readily provided.

Where desired, for factory framing and attachment of all clips, leaving only lug application for in situ installation, the upturned and oitset lip 44 shown in FIGURES 2 and 3 can be used. When so operating, a small bag of lugs 60 is tied to the assembly to be available at the site for use by the applying workman.

A modified permanent mounting bracket of invention From the previous description of the permanent mounting bracket, it will be observed that the flat form of attachment lug will accommodate certain variations in countertop thickness. However, where using either thicker countertops or thicker appliance rims, the wall 52 of a modified form of bracket 74, shown in FIG- URE 5, is provided with two or more spaced lug-receiving slots 76 to accommodate one universal lug oil to different countertop thicknesses and different appliance rim thicknesses. In this embodiment, an overturned lip 54 is employed, and an angularly upturned and offset lip 44 can also be employed, as disclosed for the prior embodiments of the invention.

The universal bracket As shown in FIGURE 6, a universal bracket 28-50 can be made in accordance with the present invention, by forming the temporary bracket 28 of FIGURES 2 and 3 and the permanent bracket 50 of FIGURE 4, for example, from a single piece of stock. Thus, when the screw 40 is pulled up against the appliance rim, the entire unit 28, 50 will be held in position and the lip 44 will prevent displacement.

In this combination bracket, the ledge 36 can be formed to extend all along the lower edge of the unit if desired. When so operating the lug 60 will be made of a suitable length to allow the screw 40, FIGURE 4, to pass the exposed edge of the ledge.

Application to self-framing appliances FIGURE 7 illustrates application of the present invention to a self-framing appliance having a rim 92. In this type of appliance, a sub-wall 94 is applied as by spot welding and is offset to provide a gap 96 for receiving the top lip 26 of either a temporary bracket 28 or the top lip 54 of a permanent bracket of invention. Also, the sub-wall $4 is bent downwardly as at 98 to form a rib analogous to the attachment Wall 30 as shown in FIG- URE 2.

As illustrated in FIGURE 7, a permanent mounting bracket 53 of the type illustrated in FIGURE 4 is utilized, and the upturned lip 44 is clipped or looked around the bottom edge of the sub-wall rib 98 to guard against accidental dislodgement.

Application of a lug 60 and turning up the bolt 40 is the only undercounter operation necessary for final installation of the unit in accordance with the invention.

Extended scope 10 the invention Although the foregoing description has illustratively related to the mounting of a flanged appliance using bolts passed through the lower ledge 36 of the temporary attachment bracket or the permanent attachment lug 60, it will be understood that these elements can be replaced by slidable shims to perform the same function of holding the temporary bracket 28 or lug 60, that isin biased relationship with respect to the appliance rim; also, rotary cams can be utilized to perform this function instead of a slidable shim if desired.

Also, within the extended scope of the invention, it is to be understood that the lug-receiving slot 56 as shown in FIGURE 6 and slot 76 of FIGURE 5 can have one end open, sufiicient stock being provided for strength.

Although the foregoing description has illustratively related to the mounting of a flanged sink as typified by an ordinary kitchen sink in a countertop, the broad scope of invention includes application of all types of rimmed appliances into a suitable mounting. Thus, bathroom sinks of the type shown, flanged stove tops of both the gas and electric variety, and bathtubs on the order of a large kitchen sink having flanges extending all the Way around, are to be included as being applied by the clip principle of the present invention and utilizing the improved bottomside installation.

Advantages \Of the present lz'nvention Advantages inherent in the present invention are believed to be obvious from the foregoing description. However, for purposes of emphasizing the improvements provided, the advantages will be summarized as follows:

Thus, a rigid assembly utilizing improved combination topside and bottomside installation techniques is provided. Also, tight and effective fluid-seals are provided around the appliance with the countertop.

Also, the inventory problems of the prior art are appreciably reduced by utilizing the present invention, because only one rim in the various perimeter sizes is required; only one type of lug, and only one temporary attachment bracket and one permanent bracket or one combination bracket including both temporary and permanent'brackets are utilized in accordance with the present invention as compared to at least, 4 different rims of the prior art in 15" to 20 different appliance sizes, with at least twelve different configurations of lugs.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim: 1. In a system for mounting a self-framed appliance in an opening in a counter-top, a sub-wall connected b e-j neath the frame of the appliance and forming a gap generally centrally beneath and adjacent the appliance frame,

a bracket having a wall with first and second spaced edges and a face surface, an overturned lip formed along said first edge and inserted into said sub-wall gap, a lugreceiving opening in said wall and spaced from said lip,

a two-ended lug extended through said opening and having one end engaged with one of the bottomside of the countertop and the bottomside of the appliance, and adjustable means on the other end of said lug to engage the other of the bottomside of the appliance'and the bottomside of the countertop and thereby lock the appliance and conntertop in assembled relation. f

than the appliance to provide an annular gap between the perimeter of the rim of eter ofthe gap, V

a frame having a top wall overlying adjacent portions of the support surface'and appliance flange,

said frame having the top wall turned under todefinea gap in alignment with the annular gap between the perimeter ofthe rim of theapplianceand the opening, i p

and said frame having a rib extending generally perpendicular beneath said gap and'between said appliance, flange and the perimeter of said opening,

an attachment bracket comprising a wall having first and second spaced edges and a face surface,

an overturned lip formed along one of said edges and' inserted into said gap, 1

a support ledge formed alongat least a portion of the other edge, 7 a

said lip and ledge extending away from said face,

a threaded aperture in said ledge, I

a threaded body extended through, said aperture and engaging one of said appliance flange and support surface, I

a lug-receiving opening in said wall spaced-fromsaid lip and out of alignment with said opening, and a two-ended lug inserted in said lug-receiving opening and'having one end engaging one of the appliance rim and support surface and biasing means between the other end and the other of the applianc rim and support surface; 2

3. In a system for mounting a flanged appliance with-' in an opening in a support surface, the opening being larger than the appliance to provide an annular gap bethe appliance and the perim i 2. In asystem for mounting a flanged appliance within an opening in 'a support surface, the openingbeing-larger and engaged with the other of the appliance rim '0 r v 0 ing opening formed in said wall and spaced from said lip, a two-ended lug extending through said opening and havingone end'engaged with one of the appliance rim and support surface, and a bolt through the other end and support surface to lock the frame, appliance and support surface in assembled relationship, and a plurality of spaced apart temporary attachment brackets each comprising a wall having first and second spaced edges and a face surface, an overturned lip formed alongsaid first edge and inserted into said gap of said frame, a support ledge formed along said second edge, said lip and ledge extending away in the same direction from said face, and biasing means between said support ledge and said lip engaging one surface, 7

V 4. In a system for mounting a flanged appliance within an opening in a supporttsurface, the opening being larger thanthe appliance to provide an annular gap between the perimeter ofthe rim of the appliance and the of the appliance rim and support perimeter of the gap, a frame having a top wall overlying adjacent portions of theisupport surface and appliance flange, said'frarne 1 having the top wall turned underto define a gap in alignment with theannular gap between the perimeter of the rim, of the appliance and the opening,'and said frame having a rib extending into the annular gap between the appliance andisupport surface, a plurality of spaced apart permanent brackets tween the perimeter of the rim of the appliance and the perimeter of the gap, a frame having a wall overlying adjacent portions of the support. surface and appliance flange, said frame having the top wall turned under to define a gap between the appliance and the support surface, and said frame having a rib extended between said appliance flange and the perimeter of said opening, a plurality of spaced apart permanentattachment brackets each having a wall with first and second spaced edges and a face surface, an overturnedrlip formed along said first edge and inserted into said frame gap, 21. lug-receiveachhaving a wall with first and second spaced edges and a face surface, an overturned lip formed along said first edge and inserted into said frame gap, a lug-receiving opening formed in said wall and spaced from said lip, a

two-ended lug extended through said opening and having oneend engaged with one of the. appliance rim andsupport surface, and a bolt threaded through the other end and engaged with the other of the appliance rim and support surface to lock the frame, appliance and support "surface in assembled relationship, and a plurality of spaced apart temporary brackets each having a wall With first and second s'pacedledges and a face surface, an

overturned lip formedalong said first edge and inserted into said frame gap, a support ledge formed along said second edge, said lip and ledge extending away in the same direction from said face, said support ledge having a threaded opening formed therein, and a bolt threaded through said opening and engaged with one of the appliance rim and support surface. i

' References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS V Y EDWARD V. BENHAM, Primary Examiner. CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Examiner. 

1. IN A SYSTEM FOR MOUNTING A SELF-FRAMED APPLIANCE IN AN OPENING IN A COUNTERTOP, A SUB-WALL CONNECTED BENEATH THE FRAME OF THE APPLIANCE AND FORMING A GAP GENERALLY CENTRALLY BENEATH AND ADJACENT THE APPLIANCE FRAME, A BRACKET HAVING A WALL WITH FIRST AND SECOND SPACED EDGES AND A FACE SURFACE, AN OVERTURNED LIP FORMED ALONG SAID FIRST EDGE AND INSERTED INTO SAID SUB-WALL GAP, A LUGRECEIVING OPENING IN SAID WALL AND SPACED FROM SAID LIP, A TWO-ENDED LUG EXTENDED THROUGH SAID OPENING AND HAVING ONE END ENGAGED WITH ONE OF THE BOTTOMSIDE OF THE COUNTERTOP AND THE BOTTOMSIDE OF THE APPLIANCE AND THE JUSTABLE MEANS ON THE OTHER END OF SAID LUG TO ENGAGE THE OTHER OF THE BOTTOMSIDE OF THE APPLIANCE AND THE BOTTOMSIDE OF THE COUNTERTOP AND THEREBY LOCK THE APPLIANCE AND COUNTERTOP IS ASSEMBLED RELATION. 